US4958488A - Combustion system - Google Patents
Combustion system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4958488A US4958488A US07/339,449 US33944989A US4958488A US 4958488 A US4958488 A US 4958488A US 33944989 A US33944989 A US 33944989A US 4958488 A US4958488 A US 4958488A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- hot gas
- zone combustor
- combustor
- continuous stream
- compressed air
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23R—GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
- F23R3/00—Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel
- F23R3/28—Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel characterised by the fuel supply
- F23R3/34—Feeding into different combustion zones
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02C—GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F02C3/00—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid
- F02C3/20—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid using a special fuel, oxidant, or dilution fluid to generate the combustion products
- F02C3/30—Adding water, steam or other fluids for influencing combustion, e.g. to obtain cleaner exhaust gases
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23C—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN A CARRIER GAS OR AIR
- F23C6/00—Combustion apparatus characterised by the combination of two or more combustion chambers or combustion zones, e.g. for staged combustion
- F23C6/04—Combustion apparatus characterised by the combination of two or more combustion chambers or combustion zones, e.g. for staged combustion in series connection
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23R—GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
- F23R3/00—Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel
- F23R3/007—Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel constructed mainly of ceramic components
Definitions
- This invention relates to combustion systems for stationary gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to an external combustor which achieves low emissions of oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide.
- the described combustion system is particularly suitable for burning pulverized coal and includes a rich zone combustor where the coal is burned at an equivalence ratio above 1 and at a temperature above the slagging temperature of the coal.
- the combustion products of the rich zone combustor including combustible gas, molten slag, and ash, pass through a coolant screen which quenches the combustion products.
- the quenched slag and ash are separated from the combustible gas in two stages of inertial separation.
- the combustible gas is then introduced into a lean zone combustor with additional combustion air.
- the combustible gas ignites spontaneously and burns at an equivalence ratio less than 1 to produce a substantially ash-free and slag-free stream of hot gas motive fluid suitable for introduction into the turbine stages of the gas turbine engine.
- a combustion system according to this invention employs the combustion system of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,446 without inertial separation stages to achieve low levels of oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide with non-slag and non-ash forming fuels such as natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons.
- This invention is a new and improved combustion system particularly suited for stationary gas turbine engines.
- non-slag or non-ash forming fuel such as natural gas or liquid hydrocarbon is burned in a primary air supply in a rich zone combustor at an equivalence ratio greater than 1.
- Residence time in the rich zone combustor limits the temperature of the combustion products to a level just below the temperature at which rapid formation of oxides of nitrogen occurs.
- the effluent from the rich zone combustor includes a combustible mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and is quenched in a curtain of water or steam in a quench stage of the combustion system.
- the quenched combustible mixture then enters a lean zone combustor where the it spontaneously ignites in a secondary supply of compressed air and burns at an equivalence ratio less than 1.
- the non-combustible effluent from the lean zone combustor is cooled in a dilution stage of the combustion system and directed to the turbine stages of the gas turbine engine.
- FIG. 1 is partially broken-away, partially schematic perspective view of a gas turbine engine having a combustion system according to this invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially broken-away perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1.
- a stationary gas turbine engine 10 includes a generally cylindrical case 12 rigidly mounted on a pedestal 14.
- the case defines a longitudinal axis 16 of the engine and includes a compressor section 18 and a turbine section 20 within which are rotatably supported, respectively, a plurality of axial flow compressor stages and one or more axial flow turbine stages, not shown. At least one of the turbine stages is connected to an output shaft 22 aligned on the axis 16 of the engine.
- the output shaft projects from the intake end of the compressor section 18 and through a shroud or inlet duct 24 through which air is conducted to the inlet of the compressor.
- the compressor delivers air to a transition section 26 of the engine between the compressor and turbine sections.
- the transition section is internally constructed to conduct compressed air from the compressor out through a side outlet 28 to a schematically represented transfer duct 30.
- the transfer duct 30 conducts compressed air to an external combustion system 32 according to this invention.
- Hot gas motive fluid generated in the combustion system 32 is directed back into the engine through an inlet side of the transition section 26 and from there to the turbine stages in the turbine section 20.
- suitable stationary gas turbine engines are models 501-K and 571-K gas turbine engines manufactured by Allison Gas Turbine Division, General Motors Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.
- the combustion system 32 includes a rich zone combustor 34 having a cylindrical outer shell 36 and a similarly shaped inner shell 38 of high temperature resistant castable refractory.
- the inner shell 38 has an inside diameter D1 and opens downwardly through a circular opening 40 of the same diameter.
- An inlet housing 42, FIGS. 1 and 2 on top of the rich zone combustor 34 has an inlet chamber 44 which opens through a circular aperture 46 at the center of a bell mouth 48 into the center of the inner shell 38 of the rich zone combustor.
- a primary supply of compressed air is conducted into the inlet chamber 44 through a pair of inlets 50 connected to a primary air branch 52 of the transfer duct 30.
- a nozzle 54 is centrally mounted on the inlet housing 42 and includes an outer body 56 and an inner body 58 within the outer body.
- the outer body 56 projects into the aperture 46 and carries a plurality of outside vanes 60 which swirl the primary air flowing from inlet chamber 44 into the rich zone combustor 34.
- a fuel supply pipe 62 for non-slag and non-ash forming fuel such as natural gas or liquid hydrocarbon fuel is connected to the nozzle inner body 58. The fuel is directed to an orifice, not shown, at the lower end of the inner body centered above the interior of the rich zone combustor 34.
- the pressure of the atomizing air is boosted by a small, schematically represented atomizing air compressor 66 and flows downward into the rich zone combustor 34 through a plurality of swirl vanes 68 between the inner and outer bodies.
- the swirling atomizing air mixes with and disperses the non-ash and non-slag forming liquid fuel issuing from the inner body 58. Atomizing air is not required for natural gas fuel.
- the nozzle 54 is representative and forms no part of this invention.
- a quench stage 70 of the combustion system 32 includes a cylindrical housing 72 having a inner wall 74 which defines a throat of the quench stage.
- the inner wall has a diameter D2 which exceeds diameter D1 of the inner shell 38 of the rich zone combustor 34.
- the throat may be lined with refractory or the quench stage may be water cooled.
- a flange 76 on the quench stage provides rigid connection of the latter to a corresponding flange 78 on the rich zone combustor 34.
- a plurality of coolant supply pipes 80 connect to a corresponding plurality of nozzles on the quench stage adapted to direct horizontal sprays of coolant across the throat of the quench stage.
- the nozzles are arranged such that a curtain of coolant stretches completely across the throat in a plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of hot gas from the rich zone combustor.
- a preferable coolant is water but steam or other inert material having a high heat capacity can be employed.
- a lean zone combustor 82 of the combustion system 32 is preferably, but not necessarily, of the cyclonic type and includes a cylindrical housing 84 which is closed at both ends.
- the housing has cylindrical neck 86 with a flange 88 whereat the lean zone combustor is rigidly connected to a corresponding flange on the quench stage 70.
- the neck 86 opens into the interior of the housing 84 generally tangent to an inside wall 90 thereof which wall also may be lined with a castable refractory.
- a secondary air branch 92 from the transfer duct 30 supplies a secondary quantity of compressed air to the lean zone combustor through a plurality of air nozzles on the neck 86.
- the air nozzles may be arranged to increase turbulence in the flow into the lean zone combustor.
- a cylindrical outlet pipe 94 is supported on an end wall 96 of the housing 84 with an inner end suspended within the housing and an outer end connected to the inlet side of the transition section 26 of the engine.
- the outlet pipe 94 has a dilution air branch 98 of the transfer duct 30 connected thereto outside the lean zone combustor 82.
- the part of the pipe between the lean zone combustor and the transition section 26 of the engine defines a dilution stage of the combustion system 32.
- the dilution stage is peculiar to the gas turbine application of the combustion system 32 because of limitations on the temperature of the hot gas motive fluid which may be introduced into the turbine stages of the engine. In other applications, the dilution stage could be eliminated and the lean zone combustor connected directly to a downstream consuming device.
- the steady state operation of the combustion system 32 is described as follows.
- the numerical values stated herein are estimates for an engine capable of producing about 6000 horsepower.
- the compressor of the engine supplies primary air to the inlet chamber 44 at a rate of about 6.3 pounds per second (PPS).
- Non-ash and non-slag forming fuel such as natural gas issues from the nozzle 54 into the rich zone combustor 34 at a rate of about 0.8 PPS and burns in the primary air and atomizing air from the boost compressor 66 in a fuel rich environment characterized by an equivalence ratio of about 2.0.
- the rich zone equivalence ratio limits the temperature of the effluent therefrom to about 2800° F. which is below the temperature range characterized by rapid formation of oxides of nitrogen.
- the effluent from the rich zone combustor 34 which is a combustible mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, flows vertically down through the circular opening 40 in a fast moving, continuous stream.
- the effluent from the rich zone combustor 34 enters the throat of the quench stage 70, it traverses the curtain of water being sprayed by the nozzles at a rate of about 1.5 PPS. Because the diameter D1 of the circular opening 40 in the rich zone combustor 34 is smaller than the diameter D2 of the throat of the quench stage 70, all of the effluent from the rich zone combustor passes through the water curtain which quickly reduces the temperature or quenches the hot combustible gas to about 1800° F.
- the quenched combustible gas stream flows into the lean zone combustor 82 at a rate of about 8.6 PPS.
- a secondary supply of compressed air at a rate of about 8.1 PPS is introduced into the lean zone combustor 82 from the secondary air branch 92 in a fashion to maximize turbulence in the lean zone combustor.
- the combustible gas from the quench zone ignites spontaneously in the secondary air in the lean zone combustor and burn at an equivalence ratio of about 0.76 so that all of the combustible constituents are consumed in the lean zone combustor.
- the water or steam from the quench stage functions to limit the temperature rise in the lean zone combustor to below the aforesaid range characterized by rapid formation of oxides of nitrogen. Accordingly, a continuous stream of hot gas motive fluid having acceptably low levels of oxides of nitrogen is discharged into the outlet pipe 94 from the lean zone combustor.
- dilution air at a rate of about 15.5 PPS is supplied to the hot gas motive fluid through the dilution air branch 98. Mixture with the cooler dilution air reduces the gas temperature to an acceptable 1970° F.
- the diluted and cooler motive fluid is directed into the engine through the transition section 26 and then to the turbine stages in the turbine section 20.
Abstract
Description
Claims (2)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/339,449 US4958488A (en) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-04-17 | Combustion system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/339,449 US4958488A (en) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-04-17 | Combustion system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US4958488A true US4958488A (en) | 1990-09-25 |
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Family Applications (1)
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US07/339,449 Expired - Fee Related US4958488A (en) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-04-17 | Combustion system |
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Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0544350A1 (en) * | 1991-11-25 | 1993-06-02 | General Motors Corporation | Solid fuel combustion system for gas turbine engine |
US5626794A (en) * | 1994-12-15 | 1997-05-06 | Amoco Corporation | Process for hydroshifting dimethyl ether |
GB2307008A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1997-05-14 | Fred Moseley | Gas turbine engine with two stage combustion |
US5819540A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1998-10-13 | Massarani; Madhat | Rich-quench-lean combustor for use with a fuel having a high vanadium content and jet engine or gas turbine system having such combustors |
US5939353A (en) * | 1992-12-21 | 1999-08-17 | Bp Amoco Corporation | Method for preparing and using nickel catalysts |
US20040050070A1 (en) * | 2002-09-12 | 2004-03-18 | The Boeing Company | Fluid injector and injection method |
US6755359B2 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2004-06-29 | The Boeing Company | Fluid mixing injector and method |
US6775987B2 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2004-08-17 | The Boeing Company | Low-emission, staged-combustion power generation |
US20050000220A1 (en) * | 2002-12-02 | 2005-01-06 | Bert Zauderer | Injection methods to reduce nitrogen oxides emission from gas turbines combustors |
USRE43252E1 (en) | 1992-10-27 | 2012-03-20 | Vast Power Portfolio, Llc | High efficiency low pollution hybrid Brayton cycle combustor |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2961050A (en) * | 1957-04-24 | 1960-11-22 | Jet Heet Inc | Inert gas generator |
US3359723A (en) * | 1965-10-29 | 1967-12-26 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Method of combusting a residual fuel utilizing a two-stage air injection technique and an intermediate steam injection step |
US3826077A (en) * | 1971-12-15 | 1974-07-30 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Method of introducing three streams of air into a combustor with selective heating |
US4420929A (en) * | 1979-01-12 | 1983-12-20 | General Electric Company | Dual stage-dual mode low emission gas turbine combustion system |
US4724780A (en) * | 1984-06-29 | 1988-02-16 | Power Generating, Inc. | Pressurized cyclonic combustion method and burner for particulate solid fuels |
US4784600A (en) * | 1986-10-08 | 1988-11-15 | Prutech Ii | Low NOx staged combustor with swirl suppression |
US4787208A (en) * | 1982-03-08 | 1988-11-29 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Low-nox, rich-lean combustor |
US4845940A (en) * | 1981-02-27 | 1989-07-11 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Low NOx rich-lean combustor especially useful in gas turbines |
-
1989
- 1989-04-17 US US07/339,449 patent/US4958488A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2961050A (en) * | 1957-04-24 | 1960-11-22 | Jet Heet Inc | Inert gas generator |
US3359723A (en) * | 1965-10-29 | 1967-12-26 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Method of combusting a residual fuel utilizing a two-stage air injection technique and an intermediate steam injection step |
US3826077A (en) * | 1971-12-15 | 1974-07-30 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Method of introducing three streams of air into a combustor with selective heating |
US4420929A (en) * | 1979-01-12 | 1983-12-20 | General Electric Company | Dual stage-dual mode low emission gas turbine combustion system |
US4845940A (en) * | 1981-02-27 | 1989-07-11 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Low NOx rich-lean combustor especially useful in gas turbines |
US4787208A (en) * | 1982-03-08 | 1988-11-29 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Low-nox, rich-lean combustor |
US4724780A (en) * | 1984-06-29 | 1988-02-16 | Power Generating, Inc. | Pressurized cyclonic combustion method and burner for particulate solid fuels |
US4784600A (en) * | 1986-10-08 | 1988-11-15 | Prutech Ii | Low NOx staged combustor with swirl suppression |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
Carlstrom, L. A. et al., "Improved Emissions Performance in Today's Combustion Systems", AEG/SOA 7805, International Seminar, Jun. 1978. pp. 1 and 17. |
Carlstrom, L. A. et al., Improved Emissions Performance in Today s Combustion Systems , AEG/SOA 7805, International Seminar, Jun. 1978. pp. 1 and 17. * |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5255506A (en) * | 1991-11-25 | 1993-10-26 | General Motors Corporation | Solid fuel combustion system for gas turbine engine |
EP0544350A1 (en) * | 1991-11-25 | 1993-06-02 | General Motors Corporation | Solid fuel combustion system for gas turbine engine |
USRE43252E1 (en) | 1992-10-27 | 2012-03-20 | Vast Power Portfolio, Llc | High efficiency low pollution hybrid Brayton cycle combustor |
US5939353A (en) * | 1992-12-21 | 1999-08-17 | Bp Amoco Corporation | Method for preparing and using nickel catalysts |
US5626794A (en) * | 1994-12-15 | 1997-05-06 | Amoco Corporation | Process for hydroshifting dimethyl ether |
US5819540A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1998-10-13 | Massarani; Madhat | Rich-quench-lean combustor for use with a fuel having a high vanadium content and jet engine or gas turbine system having such combustors |
GB2307008A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1997-05-14 | Fred Moseley | Gas turbine engine with two stage combustion |
US20040050070A1 (en) * | 2002-09-12 | 2004-03-18 | The Boeing Company | Fluid injector and injection method |
US6775987B2 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2004-08-17 | The Boeing Company | Low-emission, staged-combustion power generation |
US20040177619A1 (en) * | 2002-09-12 | 2004-09-16 | The Boeing Company | Fluid injector and injection method |
US6802178B2 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2004-10-12 | The Boeing Company | Fluid injection and injection method |
US6857274B2 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2005-02-22 | The Boeing Company | Fluid injector and injection method |
US6755359B2 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2004-06-29 | The Boeing Company | Fluid mixing injector and method |
US20050000220A1 (en) * | 2002-12-02 | 2005-01-06 | Bert Zauderer | Injection methods to reduce nitrogen oxides emission from gas turbines combustors |
US7047748B2 (en) * | 2002-12-02 | 2006-05-23 | Bert Zauderer | Injection methods to reduce nitrogen oxides emission from gas turbines combustors |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE, MICHIGA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:WILKES, COLIN;MONGIA, HUKAM C.;TRAMM, PETER C.;REEL/FRAME:005106/0579 Effective date: 19890526 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CHEMICAL BANK, AS AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AEC ACQUISITION CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:006779/0728 Effective date: 19931130 Owner name: AEC ACQUISITION CORPORATION, INDIANA Free format text: LICENSE;ASSIGNOR:GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:006783/0315 Effective date: 19931130 |
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Effective date: 20020925 |